School Psychology Student Spotlight: Mary Phan
Mary Phan is a doctoral student in the school psychology program working under Dr. Tyler Renshaw. Her research interests are focused on implementing mindfulness-based interventions to underserved youth in public schools. Mary was born and raised in Trenton, New Jersey but lived near the Philadelphia area as she earned her bachelor's degree in psychology at Temple University.
Why did you choose to come to USU?
The main reason I decided to attend USU is because of my advisor, Tyler Renshaw, and for the amazing students in his lab, who are now my best friends. I initially reached out to Dr. Renshaw before applying to graduate school since our research interests aligned. We are both deeply passionate about mindfulness-based interventions and enhancing the accessibility and quality of school-based mental health services. Dr. Renshaw took the time to schedule a phone call and answer all the questions I had about graduate school and USU’s program. His genuine kindness and our aligned research interests were what initially drew me to USU. When I met his lab during interview day, it solidified my choice. I never felt so connected to a community in such a short time. Everyone was authentic, kind, and hardworking and I immediately knew they would be my second family here (and I was right!). The program itself was also appealing as it offers a yearly stipend and funding for thesis and dissertation projects as well as conference travel. As a first-generation student, it was really important for me to find a program that provided financial support in this way.
Why did you decide to pursue a degree in the School Psychology specialization?
I really care about increasing the accessibility of mental health services for youth as well as advocating for racial equity through policy changes. In order to change the oppressive, systemic racism – it’s important to change the system. I chose a degree in school psychology because I wanted to learn the ins and outs of the school system as it plays an important role in overcoming barriers in service accessibility. My research focuses on implementing mindfulness-based interventions with marginalized youth in public schools as one way to leverage equitable and accessible mental health services. These interventions can potentially improve access to care and outcomes, especially for marginalized youth. Mindfulness-based interventions are financially low-cost, and once learned, can be practiced anytime and anywhere, making them a flexible and feasible approach. A degree in school psychology has allowed me to navigate the school system to find opportunities for equal access to resources.
After graduation, I plan to further pursue my career in academia. I love research and I am deeply passionate about social justice. I believe that pursuing a career in academia will allow me to make the long-term changes necessary to end the oppressive system. As a Health Policy research scholar led by Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, I will use my knowledge in developing policies that advance equity and health while pursuing academia to back up the research. There is so much work that needs to be done and I will not stop fighting for our community until I see changes.
What advice do you have for other students in the School Psychology specialization, or for those considering applying?
For those currently in school psychology as well as those who are considering applying, I recommend that they take the time to really think about their values and passion in order to understand how a path in school psychology can complement one another. There is a national shortage of school psychologists and unfortunately, that means that you may experience burnout at some point in your career. Aligning your values and passion with this line of work may allow you to overcome these stressors while fueling your desire to make a positive impact for youth and families. That being said, I cannot stress enough how important it is for students to take care of themselves spiritually, mentally, and physically. Learn to say no when you don’t have the bandwidth to take on more work, advocate for your needs, and set boundaries so that you can still enjoy your life while attending graduate school. The field of school psychology is demanding so finding a balance is necessary to make this career sustainable. Finally, I encourage students to practice giving themselves grace whenever mistakes happen as we are all human. Far too often we only see polished success stories but it’s rare to hear about the mistakes and failures that came before it. I have made many mistakes during my lifetime and in graduate school, but those failures allowed me to grow into the person that I am today. We must give ourselves grace and remember that it will be okay.
Anything else you would like to add about the School Psychology program or about your experience in grad school?
The field of school psychology is greatly in need of diverse students and psychologists. Having representation in this field is so important for the historically marginalized youth and families we work with. If your values and passion align with this field, I highly encourage folks from underrepresented backgrounds to consider applying! Graduate school is hard and long so finding a supportive community and mentor is so important for this journey. I’ve been able to thrive in the chaos of graduate school because of my friends and mentor, and for that, I am so grateful.